HARRISBURG – Gov. Tom Corbett has ordered all Pennsylvania flags lowered to half-staff immediately in honor of former Gov. George Leader, who died today at the age of 95.
Leader was 36 years old when he was elected Pennsylvania’s 36th governor, serving from 1955 until 1959.
Originally from York County, Leader graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, earning the rank of ensign and serving on an aircraft carrier in the Pacific Theater.
During the 1980s and 1990s, Leader and his family established a number of nursing homes and long-term-care facilities. He continued to be active in the business, visiting some of the facilities on a weekly basis.
More recently, Leader was actively involved in Corbett’s effort to reform Pennsylvania’s corrections system. Leader joined the bipartisan effort to make the prison system more efficient and effective.
Flags will remain at half-staff until sunset on the day of his funeral. Service arrangements for the former governor are pending.